Massachusett Language Revival Project

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Lesson Sheet

Basic Conversational
Natick-Massachusett

Here we give you a conversational lesson. This lesson was used by Chief Spotted Eagle
of the Nipmuck in his classes at The Algonquian Indian School in Providence, RI which he held
for years.

For the roots of the words, you must go to Part I of the book.

You have to try pronouncing the words just as they are written. The words are written
phonetically—what you see is what you say. The stress is indicated by (') and OO is pronounced
like "moody". For example "good morning" is two words: MOT-TOMP-AN WU-NEE

Greeting of the Day Lesson

MOT-TOMP-AN WU-NEE

TOH KUT-IN-UK-KEET-TE-AM

WUN-NIK-KEET-E-AM TAU-BOT-NEE

KAH KEEN

MUT-TA-E WUN-NEE

KE-SUK WUN-EEG-IN

NUX WUN-NEE-NOQ-A-ONK

POH-SHE-QUA -E-U AH-QUOM-PEE

AH-QUOM-PEE NE-WUT-CHEE
MEET-SUONK

QUT-TUK-QUAW-QUAW WUN-NEE

MAT KUN-NUN-0-US NE-WUT-CHEE
PAS-UK NO-AD-TUK

TOH WUT-TEEG-IN

NUT-TAY-EE UT ON-KAT-OG
0-TAN-NEEM-ES

WUN-NON-QUAY-EE WUN-NEE

NUK-KON WUN-NEEG-IN

AN-NOCK-SUCK MON-AT-TASH

KAH NUX POH-KOK

MAT PAS-SUCK MAT-TOKS

KAH PAS-SUCK 0-KOOM-MESS
NE-POZ-SHAD WUN-NEEG-IN

Good morning
How are you?
Fine, thank you
And You?
Very Good
Beautiful day
Yes, I agree (good talk)
It's noon time
It is time to eat

Good Afternoon

I haven't seen you for a long time

Where keep you

I dwell in another village

Good evening

It is a beautiful night

There are many stars

And yes, clear skies

Not one cloud

And a beautiful Grand Mother moon

65

A-QUEEN-EE KAH NAH-HON-NUSH-
SHAGK

NOCK-US-KOR-AT-TIT-EE-AH
WONK TEE-AN-UK

AP-POO NAN-AU-ANT-TAM-O-EE
PAJ-AIR

Peace and farewell

Let us meet again soon

Remain careful (take care)
until (in departing of a friend)

There is no word for "good-bye"
in the language

®
Keihtanit-oom

"Keihtanit-«>m" ("O Spirit") is the name of a Spiritual poem translated into Natick-Massachusett.
The next page contains the poem in the original English and our Natick-Massachusett translation.
Analysis of the Hnes will give the reader some more practice in word-analysis.

O Spirit

Keihtanit-oom

O Spirit

That gives us our breath

Watch over us

Keihtanit-oom

magunutche nashaiionk

wadchanish

O Spirit

That gives us our food

Watch over us

Keihtanit-oom

magunutche meechummuonk

wadchanish

O Spirit

That gives us our family

Watch over us

Keihtanit-oom

magunutche weechinnineummoncheg

wadchanish

O Spirit

That gives us our happiness

Watch over us

Keihtanit-oom

magunutche wunnegenash

wadchanish

O Spirit

That makes all living

Watch over us

Keihtanit-oom

magunutche pomantamooonk

wadchanish

O Spirit

That makes us one with you

Watch over us

Keihtanit-oom

kesteau yau ut nashik ohke

wadchanish

O Spirit

You are the only One

Watch over us

Keihtanit-oom

pasuk naunt manit

wadchanish

O'Brien, Francis Joseph, Jr. (Moondancer)
Jennings, Julianne (Strong Woman)

Understanding Algonquian Indian Words (New England),
p. cm.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

1 . Algonquian Indian languages (Massachusett) — Dictionary — 2. Algonquian

Indian languages (Massachusett) — Grammar. I. The Massachusett Language

Revival Project.

Library of Congress Catalog Card Number: 96-85223

The Massachusett Language Revival Project is made possible [in part] by a grant from the
Rhode Island Committee for the Humanities, a state program of the National Endowment for
the Humanities.

The views expressed in this book do not necessarily reflect the views of either the Rhode
Island Committee for the Humanities or the National Endowment for the Humanities. The
Aquidneck Indian Council is solely responsible for its contents.

The Massachusett Language Revival Project is also made possible [in part] by a grant from
The Council of Elders, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation.

Cover design by Painted Arrow (Deborah Spears Elderkin Moorehead)

Copyright © 1996 by Moondancer and Strong Woman, Aquidneck Indian Council, Inc., 12
Curry Avenue, Newport, RI 02840-1412, USA. All rights reserved. No part of this
publication may be reproduced, stored in retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written
permission of the Aquidneck Indian Council, Inc. Printed in the United States of America.